Cory Sandhagen shows off gnarly injury after submission attempt likely tore hamstring at UFC 329

Cory Sandhagen suffered a likely hamstring tear during his UFC 329 bantamweight bout against Mario Bautista, an injury he revealed on Instagram after the fight. The damage occurred in the opening round when Bautista transitioned from a Suloev stretch into a kneebar, leaving Sandhagen visibly limping for the final two rounds. Despite the injury, Sandhagen battled through and secured the second round, but Bautista's dominance earned him a unanimous decision victory, with all three judges scoring the fight 29–28. Bautista dropped Sandhagen in the third round to seal the win.

Sandhagen acknowledged the loss in a candid Instagram post, noting that the compromised leg disrupted his game plan and prevented him from fighting at his usual level. "Gotta fight near perfect to win at the top," he wrote, crediting Bautista's preparation and well-executed gameplan. The bantamweight contender is scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine the full extent of the hamstring injury and timeline for his return.

The victory marked redemption for Bautista, who had fallen to Sandhagen on short notice during his UFC debut in 2019. This rematch showcased marked improvements in Bautista's striking and grappling, validating his development over the interim. For Sandhagen, the loss represents his third defeat in four fights, following decisions against Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov. At 135 pounds, Sandhagen remains a threat to top contenders, but his string of recent setbacks and now a serious leg injury will require careful management as he plots his next move in a crowded divisional landscape.